National Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program
Would you know what to do if someone you support was experiencing thoughts of suicide?
Anglicare’s Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program equips those who support older people with the knowledge to help prevent suicide.
The free national program includes a general suicide prevention online course followed by a workshop contextualising the training for older people. The 2 parts should only take a total of 3 hours to complete.
The program is funded by the NSW and Australian governments. To be eligible, you need to be working with older people and have internet access.
If you are interested, please email Anglicare at suicide.prevention@anglicare.org.au or visit the Anglicare website.
Webinar: Technological solutions for aged care
Join Swinburne’s Wellbeing Clinic for Older Adults for their upcoming webinar on ageing on Friday 31 March at 4.45pm‑6pm AEDT. This webinar is for people employed in aged care, as well as psychologists, social workers, counsellors and volunteers who work with older adults.
Michelle Eunson from Vision Australia will provide an overview of smart home programs and adaptive technologies to support the independence and social inclusion of older Australians.
Find out more information and register for the webinar.
Webinar: Home Care Packages Program inclusions and exclusions
The department is hosting a webinar for Home Care Packages (HCP) providers on Tuesday 4 April at 2pm-3pm AEST to explain what is included and excluded under the HCP Program.
On 13 January 2023, the department published updates to the HCP Program Provider Manual to clarify inclusions and exclusions.
We have heard your questions and concerns about the manual updates and this webinar will answer common questions.
You will have an opportunity to submit questions during the webinar. If you cannot attend, the webinar will be recorded and made available on the department’s webinar page following the event.
Vision Australia webinar: Delivering co-designed emotional support to older people
Vision Australia is presenting a webinar on Tuesday 4 April at 12pm AEST to share how their phone and Zoom emotional wellbeing program helps rebuild the lives of people experiencing vision loss.
This webinar is suitable for aged care providers looking for information on:
- co-designed group and peer-to-peer emotional wellness support
- how emotional wellness builds one’s sense of purpose and independence
- building confidence through client and group participation
- identifying and tracking a client’s personal goals in a group setting
- building a shared, judgment-free and positive environment.
Register for the emotional wellbeing program webinar.
Vision Australia is a blind and low vision provider and supports older people. Vision Australia is funded to deliver the Sector Support and Development Program under CHSP.
Quarterly Financial Report portal open soon for quarter 3 submissions
From 1 April 2023, approved providers will be able to submit their quarter 3 Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) through the Forms Administration portal. This report will cover the third quarter (January‑March) of the 2022-23 financial year.
Submissions are due to the department by 5 May 2023.
Late submissions, including failure to respond to requests for resubmission of care minutes data, may not be accepted for the Star Ratings process. This may result in a 1 Star Rating for the Staffing sub-category.
View resources to assist with QFR reporting:
If you need assistance completing the QFR, call the Forms Administration helpdesk on (02) 4403 0640 or email health@formsadministration.com.au
Prudential Governance Standard: Targeted review
The Prudential Governance Standard requires aged care providers that hold a refundable deposit to manage risk. It does this by ensuring systems and controls are in place through a governance system.
In April 2023, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will be conducting a targeted review of approved providers to gauge compliance with this standard.
The review aims to:
- increase provider understanding of the Governance Standard
- increase compliance with governance system requirements
- increase protection of resident’s refundable deposits
- identify any link between non-compliance with Quality Standard 8(c) and non-compliance with the Governance Standard.
The Commission will contact selected providers in the coming weeks.
Further information on targeted reviews is available on the Commission’s website.
Reminder: Webinar – New quality indicators for residential aged care
A free webinar on the new quality indicators in residential aged care is being held on Tuesday 28 March at 2pm–3pm AEDT.
This event will help residential aged care providers collect and report 6 new quality indicators to monitor and drive quality improvement.
Join us to:
- understand the new quality indicators
- discuss the specific assessment tools and reporting requirements
- learn more about our new resources and quality improvement materials
- engage in a Q&A session on common queries and participant questions.
Register to attend the webinar.
Find more information on the new quality indicators to be introduced to the National Aged Care Mandatory Quality Indicator Program from 1 April 2023 on the department’s website.
Update to the care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide
The department has updated the Care minutes and 24/7 registered nurse responsibility guide.
This provides information on care minutes targets and the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility. From 1 July 2023, approved providers of residential aged care must have at least one registered nurse on-site and on duty at all times at each residential facility.
This update:
- clarifies the roles of approved providers, residential care services and residential facilities
- explains how the 24/7 registered nurse responsibility applies when multiple services are at one facility, and when one service has multiple facilities
- provides information on 24/7 registered nurse reporting and exemptions.